FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS 
135 
her anchors, the chains getting round some rocks, 
and as she rose on a swell both her chains tautened 
up and parted. She had no other anchor to let go, 
so had to get up sail and risk the reef and combers, 
or go ashore. Being pointed for the best place, she 
had almost cleared it, when a tremendous sea swept 
over her, washing everything movable off her decks, 
and half filling her cabin. However, she had suffi¬ 
cient way on to get through it. Those of her crew 
who were on deck took to the rigging when they 
saw the sea coming, so no one was washed over¬ 
board. She 4 4 lay to ” until next day, and then 
came in again. We lent her an anchor until she 
could drag for and pick up her own. 
On October 15 we left the hunting-grounds and 
ran for Shikotan, where we intended to thoroughly 
air our skins, clean up the vessel, take in wood and 
water, and sail for Hakodate. This was our usual 
proceeding in those days at the end of the season. 
In the bay next to ours the Caroline was lying, 
making similar preparations, but she was bound for 
Yokohama. Her catch was 183 large skins and a 
number of small ones. 44 Old Joe ” wanted to go 
direct to Yokohama instead of to Hakodate, so he 
went to the Caroline to find if he could get a passage. 
He was told to fetch his things, and be on board in 
time to sail early in the morning. He started back, 
and on the way called in at the one Japanese house, 
where they filled him up with sake, the result being 
that the old man lost his passage, but in doing so 
saved his life. 
The Caroline sailed in the morning, and we later 
in the day. That evening we sighted her to the 
southward of us, running before a fresh breeze, with 
